Archived: Field House

Updated 16 July 2016

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

This inspection took place on 23 June 2016 and was unannounced. It was carried out by an adult social care inspector.

Before the inspection we looked at the information we held about the service. This included information supplied at registration, statutory notifications (issues providers are legally required to notify us about) other enquiries from and about the provider and other key information we hold about the service.

During the inspection visit we met with all four people who lived at the home and had conversations with three. We spoke with two members of staff and the provider. We looked around the premises and observed care practices. We also looked at records which related to people’s individual care and to the running of the home. These included two care and support plans, three staff personnel files and records of health and safety checks.

Updated 16 July 2016

This inspection was unannounced and took place on 23 June 2016.

Field House is a small family run care home which is able to accommodate up to five people. The home specialises in the care of people who have a learning disability. At the time of the inspection four people were living at the home.

The last inspection of the home was carried out in August 2014. No concerns were raised at that inspection.

The service is run by Miss Dawn Paxton as a sole provider. As a sole provider she is not required to employ a registered manager. Instead she has opted to manage the service herself. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

The provider was open and approachable. They worked alongside care staff which enabled them to monitor practice and seek people’s views.

People were happy with the care and support they received and staff encouraged them to maintain their independence. Everyone had a care plan which set out the support they required but there was no evidence that people had been fully involved in writing their care plans.

People were comfortable and relaxed with the provider and staff who supported them and said they would be able to share any worries or concerns. However there was no complaints policy displayed in the home which could mean people who did not feel able to share concerns were not able to make a complaint.

Risks of abuse to people were minimised because the provider operated a robust recruitment process and staff knew what to do if they had concerns about a person. Risk assessments were carried out with people to ensure they were able to take part in activities with minimum risk to themselves and others.

People felt at home at Field House and their privacy was respected. People had formed friendships with each other and there was a happy atmosphere within the home. Staff knew people well and there was chatter and laughter between people and staff.

People took part in activities of their choosing each day. Everyone had their own room which they were able to personalise to their tastes and people were able to spend time alone when they wanted to.

Staff monitored people’s well-being and they had access to healthcare professionals according to their individual needs. Where people were not able to fully understand treatment options available the provider involved professionals and people’s representatives to make sure any decisions made were in the person’s best interests.

People were happy with the food served at the home and said they always had enough to eat. Some people were able to make drinks for themselves and staff supported other people in line with their risk assessments.